Well said htaem . I think the most astonishing thing is nom failure to do anything in Leinster ever. I mean they have been the dominant (not totally) but certainly mostly dominant team in Meath. What the hell happens come Leinster?? Is it too Much celebrating after county final? I doubt so as i read how up for this particular match up nom management were. I have zero allegiance to nom but as the county champ i wanted them to do well representing Meath. That is all. And with the pick they have yes they should have beat killoe (even though they are a good side) my point was not against killoe but questioning what exactly is happening in Meath club football.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 10/11/2015 18:29:19    1806111

Just like the county team NOM are soft.

bert09 (Meath) - Posts: 1790 - 10/11/2015 19:33:33    1806139

Dont think its fair to say NOM are soft. Much like in Scotland where Celtic dominate its probably hard to step up to a higher level having played rubbish teams most of the season. Its probably got more to do with the general quality of our leagues and championship. Low intensity for most of the season playing in third gear. In truth we probably need some more amalgamation like Na Finana did and less teams playing senior championship. If teams were battle hardened I am sure the Meath club champions would have a right go at Leinster.

Poormouth (Meath) - Posts: 204 - 10/11/2015 21:43:53    1806203

Spinks you are correct and delusional is a word I could also use about some comments. The guys posting have not a senior championship between them-enough said. Our senior championship must be run pretty close to yours and it is possible to lose 2 games and still left in championship (as happened a couple of years past). Quinn would walk on to any team in Ireland and I am not sure that we have anyone that I could say the same about. We would have a better championship if it was reduced to 12 teams allowing stiffer competition.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 11/11/2015 09:58:10    1806255

browncows

I'm not sure what relevance winning a senior championship has to do with having an opinion on the senior championship, for example Michael O'Leary can't fly a plane but he ain't too bad at running an airline! Also calling some of the comments delusional is unconstructive and again vague, what's delusional and why?

I agree that our championships needs changing though as it is possible (though rare) for a team to lose 3 group games and still qualify for the KO stages, this is a crazy situation and has to stop. Reducing the number of teams to 12 is not a bad suggestion, personally I think 4 groups of 4 with 3 group games each wouldn't be bad, but either way for me the most important thing is that you shouldn't be able to lose more than 1 game and still win our championships, also there should be 2 promotions and relegations.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/11/2015 11:30:38    1806322

I would agree with you on 16 teams in the Senior championship Htaem. The only difference is that I would have 4 of them as regional teams made up of Junior players. The standard of the senior championship is pretty poor at the moment. You could pick at least 4 or 5 of them who are very average at best. Put the 4 worst down into intermediate which would make that stronger. Put the 4 worst intermediate teams into Junior which would make that stronger. And have 4 regional teams made up of junior players which would give them an opportunity to play at a higher level, and make the senior championship stronger. It works in Kerry- no reason why it shouldn't work here.

anfearbeag (Meath) - Posts: 1134 - 11/11/2015 11:45:53    1806330

anfearbeag

I'd certainly be in favour of allowing Junior clubs join together to form competitive senior sides, it would give plenty of Junior players extra motivation and would do the county team no harm either. The only thing is it could be hard to convince clubs to join together and even harder to get current senior and intermediate sides to accept relegation, but if it serves the greater good you'd they'd come around to at least trying out such a system for a few years.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/11/2015 12:54:35    1806368

I would also support a scheme like this..

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/11/2015 13:03:28    1806376

I would not support this notion

Brownepat (Meath) - Posts: 532 - 11/11/2015 13:09:05    1806381

Htaem - nothing personal! I agree with most of what you say but sometimes it helps to have played a little senior football to know the difference between the levels (football is not a business even though county football appears to be heading that way). If one came on to this tread and had never seen a football match before (and was un-familiar with grades) then he/she by reading some of the comments would come to the conclusion that senior was a lower grade. On the issue of teams combining for the senior championship-, I would be fully supportive of the idea and have always said so. That should not prevent a junior championship but some re-structuring would need to be done. Na Fianna (even though the had to give up their junior status of the individual clubs) has livened up the senior championship and have played some excellent football.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 11/11/2015 13:51:34    1806418

So curragha and rotaoth are into the semis. When are they due to play and are they home or away?

Disappointing from NOM but let's be honest nobody expected them to win. They never do anything in Leinster.

Jack_Goff (Meath) - Posts: 2920 - 11/11/2015 14:08:39    1806427

This is a NOM issue. Not to say Meath are cutting up in this competition but stacked against the rest it's actually not bad.

Since the competition started in 1971, Dublin clubs have won it 20 times (unsurprisingly). Two clubs Eire Og and Portlaoise have won it 12 times between them. That only leaves 10 other championships that have been won outside this small subset. In that period NOM have won the Meath SFC 12 times, far and away the most of any club in Meath and the most dominant domestic champion in the province apart from the two mentioned above.

Incredibly they have never even got to one Leinster final in 40 years. They basically play the Meath SFC at home so have a huge advantage but it becomes a comfort blanket that they can't do without. Everyone knows if you play them away from Navan you will probably win. This lack of performance is also true of their players. Of all the great players they have produced from many different teams, I would say only Stephen Bray and Joe Cassells really delivered for Meath.

Again not to say Meath clubs are great, they're not. But Summerhill, Skryne, Seneschalstown and especially Dunshaughlin have given that competition a right go over the last few years. We've been as good as anybody except for NOM who limp out every year.

Goldback (Meath) - Posts: 54 - 11/11/2015 14:19:58    1806433

This is a NOM issue. Not to say Meath are cutting up in this competition but stacked against the rest it's actually not bad.

Since the competition started in 1971, Dublin clubs have won it 20 times (unsurprisingly). Two clubs Eire Og and Portlaoise have won it 12 times between them. That only leaves 10 other championships that have been won outside this small subset. In that period NOM have won the Meath SFC 12 times, far and away the most of any club in Meath and the most dominant domestic champion in the province apart from the two mentioned above.

Incredibly they have never even got to one Leinster final in 40 years. They basically play the Meath SFC at home so have a huge advantage but it becomes a comfort blanket that they can't do without. Everyone knows if you play them away from Navan you will probably win. This lack of performance is also true of their players. Of all the great players they have produced from many different teams, I would say only Stephen Bray and Joe Cassells really delivered for Meath.

Again not to say Meath clubs are great, they're not. But Summerhill, Skryne, Seneschalstown and especially Dunshaughlin have given that competition a right go over the last few years. We've been as good as anybody except for NOM who limp out every year.

Goldback (Meath) - Posts: 54 - 11/11/2015 14:20:54    1806436

browncows

Nothing personal taken, I didn't think you were specifically referring to me anyway, just looking for clarification on what you were saying, it's all good.

Anyway back to the issue of clubs amalgamating, I can only echo what you've said, Na Fianna are a great example of Junior clubs coming together and making a stir at senior level, it's just a pity a few more smaller clubs don't do the same. I think the name can be an issue for some people, I know specifically of 2 clubs that we're looking at coming together but didn't because one of them had success in the past and apparently they weren't willing to compromise the name, I won't name the clubs though.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 11/11/2015 14:56:39    1806457

Jesus above Goldback
David Beggy says hello

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 11/11/2015 15:17:37    1806466

Anyway back to the issue of clubs amalgamating, I can only echo what you've said, Na Fianna are a great example of Junior clubs coming together and making a stir at senior level, it's just a pity a few more smaller clubs don't do the same. I think the name can be an issue for some people, I know specifically of 2 clubs that we're looking at coming together but didn't because one of them had success in the past and apparently they weren't willing to compromise the name, I won't name the clubs though.

Would both those clubs now be operating at Junior B?

Richieq (Meath) - Posts: 3734 - 11/11/2015 16:22:29    1806489

Richieq - I also know similar cases and it is a pity. I also realise why clubs do not want to change names when they had a rich history in long ago maybe having won a few championships. Of course one could say all clubs have a rich history and winning a junior championship for a small club is equal or more than a large club winning the senior one. It would be interesting if someone could come up with a solution to that problem (maybe retaining a knockout championship for the individual clubs who have combined)-certainly something innovative is required.

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2342 - 11/11/2015 17:16:55    1806506

What Meath really need to do is follow Kerrys example. The Kerry championships (even though the fixtures committee are under fire at the moment) are so much more competitive than most. All of the county's best players play in the Kerry SFC, but you just can't say the same about Meath, with fine players like Graham Reilly and Mickey Newman never having played senior championship before.
Next year Kerry will have 16 teams playing senior football, 8 clubs and 8 amalgamations. The amalgamations are made up of at least 4 Intermediate or Junior clubs in the area and they all play in the senior grade and can't be relegated. This system ensures that you must be an elite player to play senior football and it also really strengthens your Intermediate and Junior grades as well.
If this was done in Meath for example, only say the 8 quarter-finalists would be eligible to play in the S.F.C. so you'd have the likes of Simonstown, Blackhall, Seneschalstown and Dunshaughlin battling for intermediate honours.
Having amalagmations also doesn't take away from the rural club because the best county stars would play for both their amalgamation in the senior grade as well as their club in the inter/junior ranks
It's the only way forward if you ask me

nmsmithy96 (Meath) - Posts: 108 - 11/11/2015 17:59:34    1806515

I said a long time ago we should copy the Kerry model,but would we really do that?

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/11/2015 18:38:46    1806532

The Kerry model is one I have admired for a while now.If Meath did something similar,it would raise the intensity,the competition and quality of the senior ranks.You will then see improvements at county level too

ziggy32001 (Meath) - Posts: 8354 - 11/11/2015 18:45:10    1806535